Are 'Real-Life' Dolls Worth It?

[nunheadmum]

My eldest is coming up to her 4th birthday. She's besotted by her dollies at the moment and has come across Baby Annabel in a catalogue that came with a doll she got at Christmas. (Correction, doll her little sister got but seldom gets to play with!!) I'm just wondering whether one of the real-life ones are really worth it? Okay, probably not worth as much as you pay but do the kids actually play with them differently than they would a simple one?

I remember a friend saying her daughter got given one that could wet it's nappy - but the nappies cost a bomb so she had to disuade her daughter from doing it (as even standard nappies could mount up in cost!). I'd probably do the same but it seems unfair to give her something but not want her to use it fully.

I'm generally of the 'less is more' frame of mind but open to be persuaded otherwise if they do really get more from them. And if so, are there any which are particularly good - or particularly awful? (I'm thinking as a parent who'll have to listen to it from the sidelines!)

[melbourne groover]

You can get the baby Annabel without the wetting part. Ours crys and laughs etc and blinks and sucks dummy but, crucially, can be turned off. The nappies are expensive and I am of the opinion we do not need any more nappies to change in this house! ;-)

The soft body ones are better as they are more resilliant to changing, we had an unfortunate incident with a Baby born's arm whilst it was being changed....

Have a look at the woolworths website, I got a really good deal on this. Or Toys r us seem to have a huge selection also.

[sillywoman]

. . . Or check out ebay - there's often dolly bargains to be had if you don't mind that it doesn't come with a box.

[Gubodge]

I'd be surprised if they could get more out of a 'real' doll than a normal baby doll. My daughters have the boring normal type, but as far as they are concerned their babies cry, laugh, eat, wet their nappies. I can't imagine it really happening could engage them anymore than their imaginations do at the moment.

[The Nappy Lady]

We have both - My Sister got a 'real life' doll for my daughter via a Charity Shop. She plays with them all equally, the real life doll is quite heavy because of all the workings inside her body. Body is soft so dressing and undressing is easy.

I don't think they add that much value to the play, just a nice to have, if you can get on at a sensible price.

I did totally wind her up once by putting some peanut butter spread on some loo roll (to look like paper liner) inside one of her washable dolls nappies (Tots Bots do really cute pink cotton velcro fastening mini dolls nappies). She is to this day convinced her doll really did a poo, and can't understand why there haven't been any more since!

Tee Hee.

Molly

[nunheadmum]

Her face must have been a picture, Molly!

I'm probably going to give in and get one, just for the variety I guess as she has other simple ones. As you say though Gubodge, the simple ones do it all anyway in her mind. (She's not long started all the imaginary play with them and I still find it so entertaining to stand out of sight and watch her!)

Next question though is....when do they finally learn to dress dolls by themselves??? I'm driven mad by, now both of mine, stripping every doll they get their hands on within seconds and then handing it to me to dress again. I'm sure the older one could do it if she tried but maybe I'm expecting too much and should just enjoy the fact that she wants to involve me while it lasts!